Today marks a barely perceptible event that is also, in the hundreds of years of Nova Scotia history, the start of a new era — so say those who know Sable Island most intimately.

The Canadian Coast Guard is officially handing over the island to Parks Canada today, though no locks are being changed, no people will arrive or leave, and nothing else on the tiny sandy strip will be affected right away.

Starting today, when aspiring visitors to the island ask for permission to go, their requests will go to Parks Canada staff.

Those requests have become more and more common in recent years, said Zoe Lucas, who has spent the majority of her time on the island since 1982. She said she’s excited about the changeover and believes it’s the island’s best option.

Parks Canada has a mandate to protect ecosystems under its care while allowing the public to enjoy park land as much as possible — a difficult balance that Lucas said is crucial to the health of delicate Sable Island, with its wild horses that are an irresistible tourist attraction.

"Knowing that Parks Canada has the expertise to deal with people and their permitting system, I just thought that it was . . . really excellent," said Lucas, adding that she has been encouraged by her interactions with parks staff so far.

"They are better informed about Sable Island even coming into it . . . than you’d find in many areas where you’d expect people to know more about the island. They’re very, very enthusiastic, and they’re just very committed."

Legislation adding Sable Island to the rest of Canada’s national parks has not yet come before Parliament, though the necessary underlying agreements have been reached in recent months, including ones governing federal versus provincial rights and others setting out rules for gas exploration and drilling around and under the island.

Once the legislation is passed, Parks Canada will have five years to come up with a management plan, which will really mark the beginning of Parks Canada’s stewardship, said MLA Leonard Preyra (Citadel-Sable Island).

"I will celebrate when the legislation is passed and the management plan is approved," he said. "It’s important that we get it right, because a single mistake in the management of Sable, it could be catastrophic. And we only have one chance to get it right."